New Delhi, January 20, 2010: The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), a national federation of street vendors across India, in a dharna on January 20 in front of the Delhi Police Commissioner’s Office protested against the continued harassment by the police, besides illegal extortion of money from street vendors.
— National street vendors’ association to protest against police harassment, extortion
Dharna outside Delhi Police Commissioner’s office on January 20
New Delhi, January 20, 2010: The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), a national federation of street vendors across India, in a dharna on January 20 in front of the Delhi Police Commissioner’s Office protested against the continued harassment by the police, besides illegal extortion of money from street vendors.
“To mark the occasion of vendor’s day on January 20, NASVI conducted a mass meeting in front of the Police HQ and registered a protest against the ongoing police harassment on vendors. We appeal to the authorities and all concerned, including the media, to pay due attention and highlight the plight of lakhs of street vendors in the Capital,” said Arbind Singh, Coordinator of NASVI, in a statement.
The street vendor’s organization put forward the following specific demands from the police:
- Stop evicting / removing / arresting street vendors.
- Lay down norms for eviction / removing / arresting of street vendors under section 283 of IPC & section 34 of police Act.
- Stop illegal extortion of money from vendors by beat constables by devising a mechanism to punish those officials involved in this malpractice.
- Stop beating and humiliation of vendors and take stringent action against such culprits.
- Stop obstructions in the finalization of vending sites.
- Form a cell to redress grievances exclusively for vendors at every zone.
Source: Press release distribution via India PRwire
Notes to Editor
About NASVI
NASVI has been successful in bringing issues concerning street vendors to the forefront and has been working closely with state and municipal bodies to push for the proper implementation of the national policies on street vendors. With a membership of over 400 street vendor organizations, NASVI brings together the street vendor organizations in India on a single platform in a collective struggle for macro-level changes that are so crucial for the livelihood of around 10 million vendors in India. It is a coalition of trade unions, community based organizations (CBOs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and professionals. NASVI has more than 3 lakh members from the over 400 member organizations across India.
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